Quote:
Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh
Not knowing the backstory on these items, where did they come from and what is significant about the 1990`s date? Were these long-lost war stocks that were finally disposed 40 or 50 years after wartime delivery, or a batch that was brought to UK and refurbished for the surplus market?
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Terry,
These mounts were very illusive and Very little known about them until a couple of UK based dealers found them along with Bofors Guns and 3.7 AA guns in Portugal and bought them back in the early nineties .
They were designed and built to keep up with and shoot down V1 flying Bombs over Britain, I believe they were built to a WD specification.
By the time these mounts were built and delivered there was no need for them as the allies were pushing through Europe.
How the Portuguese ended up with them is anyone's guess but I suspect through the transatlantic re-arming treaty.
As far as I am aware around 15 were found and bought back ,I can still remember going to the yard in Derbyshire and picking my one based on general condition and the TYRES ! and mine was first to be sold. some were very poor and incomplete but all have disappeared now into museums and collections.
Rob...............rnixartillery.